Plane vs train - price comparison

Many skiers mistakenly believe that although travelling by train is more comfortable, enjoyable and environmentally friendly, it must be much more expensive. But is that really true? Ski journalist and snowcarbon Founder, Daniel Elkan, has carried out a groundbreaking piece of research, comparing independent prices.

photo:Eurostar

Plane vs train - price comparison

Which is more expensive: flying to the Alps, or travelling by train? To show a true reflection of the differences in price to a variety of ski resorts, this study carefully researched and calculated prices from London.

The price research was carried out on 14th September, taking prices from easyJet and from Eurostar. Two Eurostar routes were measured: the daytime Direct Eurostar Ski Train and the daytime Eurostar to Lyon, plus local train.

Example findings from the research

photo:Daniel Elkan

1. A family of four with two children (aged between 4 and 11) but without skis would pay a total of £1,956 for return air travel to La Plagne at Easter. Travelling on the direct Eurostar Ski Train instead, they would pay £1,132 – a saving of £824. Travelling via Lyon, meanwhile, would cost them only £756 in total.
2. A group of four friends travelling to Meribel on 9th January, two with skis and two without, would pay £972 in total. Travelling on the direct Eurostar Ski Train would cost them £788, while travelling via Lyon instead would cost £644.
3. Travelling to the resort of Les Gets at Feb half term, a family of four with kids aged between four and 11, travelling without skis would pay £2,882, in total. By contrast, travelling on the new train route via Lyon would cost them only £1,252 – less than half the price.
4. Air travel for a Christmas escape would cost an adult couple, both bringing skis, £630. If they opted for the direct Ski Train, the cost would be higher, at £674. However, travelling via Lyon would cost them only £466.
5. Calculated over the whole season, the average weekly cost for an adult travelling by plane to Alpe d’Huez, without skis, is £240. This compares to an average cost of £202 for adults travelling by train, via Lyon.

Plane vs Train prices - price comparison table

Here are the results of the research that we did. All prices are for return journeys, starting from either Gatwick Airport or St Pancras International station, to the accommodation door. The three possible journeys tested below are:

EasyJet flight + shared taxi transfer

Daytime travel on the direct Eurostar Ski Train + private taxi

Daytime travel on the new direct Eurostar service to Lyon + local train + private taxi.

Ski destination

Return journey

Fly + taxi

Eurostar Ski Train

Eurostar via Lyon

London to

Departure date

Adult no skis

Child no skis

Adult with skis

Child with skis

Adult

Child

Adult

Child

La Plagne

19 December 2015

£255

£242

£315

£302

£329

£237

£225

£154

La Plagne

26 December 2015

£465

£452

£525

£512

sold out

sold out

£289

£199

La Plagne

02 January 2016

£232

£219

£292

£279

£225

£164

£174

£119

La Plagne

09 January 2016

£213

£200

£273

£260

£195

£143

£159

£108

La Plagne

16 January 2016

£203

£190

£263

£250

£265

£192

£159

£108

La Plagne

23 January 2016

£223

£210

£283

£270

£329

£237

£165

£112

La Plagne

30 January 2016

£215

£202

£275

£262

£282

£204

£159

£108

La Plagne

06 February 2016

£213

£200

£273

£260

£215

£157

£159

£108

La Plagne

13 February 2016

£773

£760

£833

£820

sold out

sold out

£374

£248

La Plagne

20 February 2016

£202

£189

£262

£249

£195

£143

£159

£108

La Plagne

27 February 2016

£199

£186

£259

£246

£205

£150

£159

£108

La Plagne

05 March 2016

£245

£232

£305

£292

£235

£171

£159

£108

La Plagne

12 March 2016

£218

£205

£278

£265

£235

£171

£165

£112

La Plagne

19 March 2016

£232

£219

£292

£279

£174

£128

£179

£122

La Plagne

26 March 2016

£490

£477

£550

£537

£429

£307

£201

£138

La Plagne

02 April 2016

£496

£483

£556

£543

£329

£237

£224

£154

Les Arcs

19 December 2015

£255

£242

£315

£302

£319

£227

£215

£144

Les Arcs

26 December 2015

£465

£452

£525

£512

sold out

sold out

£279

£189

Les Arcs

02 January 2016

£232

£219

£292

£279

£215

£154

£164

£109

Les Arcs

09 January 2016

£213

£200

£273

£260

£185

£133

£149

£98

Les Arcs

16 January 2016

£203

£190

£263

£250

£255

£182

£149

£98

Les Arcs

23 January 2016

£223

£210

£283

£270

£319

£227

£155

£102

Les Arcs

30 January 2016

£215

£202

£275

£262

£272

£194

£149

£98

Les Arcs

06 February 2016

£213

£200

£273

£260

£205

£147

£149

£98

Les Arcs

13 February 2016

£773

£760

£833

£820

sold out

sold out

£364

£238

Les Arcs

20 February 2016

£202

£189

£262

£249

£185

£133

£149

£98

Les Arcs

27 February 2016

£199

£186

£259

£246

£195

£140

£149

£98

Les Arcs

05 March 2016

£245

£232

£305

£292

£225

£161

£149

£98

Les Arcs

12 March 2016

£218

£205

£278

£265

£225

£161

£155

£102

Les Arcs

19 March 2016

£232

£219

£292

£279

£164

£118

£169

£112

Les Arcs

26 March 2016

£490

£477

£550

£537

£419

£297

£191

£128

Les Arcs

02 April 2016

£496

£483

£556

£543

£319

£227

£214

£144

Ski destination

Return journey

Fly + taxi

Eurostar Ski Train

Eurostar via Lyon

London to

Departure date

Adult no skis

Child no skis

Adult with skis

Child with skis

Adult

Child

Adult

Child

Meribel

19 December 2015

£255

£242

£315

£302

£331

£239

£227

£156

Meribel

26 December 2015

£465

£452

£525

£512

sold out

sold out

£291

£201

Meribel

02 January 2016

£232

£219

£292

£279

£227

£166

£176

£121

Meribel

09 January 2016

£213

£200

£273

£260

£197

£145

£161

£110

Meribel

16 January 2016

£203

£190

£263

£250

£267

£194

£161

£110

Meribel

23 January 2016

£223

£210

£283

£270

£331

£239

£167

£114

Meribel

30 January 2016

£215

£202

£275

£262

£284

£206

£161

£110

Meribel

06 February 2016

£213

£200

£273

£260

£217

£159

£161

£110

Meribel

13 February 2016

£773

£760

£833

£820

sold out

sold out

£376

£250

Meribel

20 February 2016

£202

£189

£262

£249

£197

£145

£161

£110

Meribel

27 February 2016

£199

£186

£259

£246

£207

£152

£161

£110

Meribel

05 March 2016

£245

£232

£305

£292

£237

£173

£161

£110

Meribel

12 March 2016

£218

£205

£278

£265

£237

£173

£167

£114

Meribel

19 March 2016

£232

£219

£292

£279

£176

£130

£181

£124

Meribel

26 March 2016

£490

£477

£550

£537

£431

£309

£203

£140

Meribel

02 April 2016

£496

£483

£556

£543

£331

£239

£226

£156

Val d'Isere

19 December 2015

£255

£242

£315

£302

£337

£245

£233

£162

Val d'Isere

26 December 2015

£465

£452

£525

£512

sold out

sold out

£297

£207

Val d'Isere

02 January 2016

£232

£219

£292

£279

£233

£172

£182

£127

Val d'Isere

09 January 2016

£213

£200

£273

£260

£203

£151

£167

£116

Val d'Isere

16 January 2016

£203

£190

£263

£250

£273

£200

£167

£116

Val d'Isere

23 January 2016

£223

£210

£283

£270

£337

£245

£173

£120

Val d'Isere

30 January 2016

£215

£202

£275

£262

£290

£212

£167

£116

Val d'Isere

06 February 2016

£213

£200

£273

£260

£223

£165

£167

£116

Val d'Isere

13 February 2016

£773

£760

£833

£820

sold out

sold out

£382

£256

Val d'Isere

20 February 2016

£202

£189

£262

£249

£203

£151

£167

£116

Val d'Isere

27 February 2016

£199

£186

£259

£246

£213

£158

£167

£116

Val d'Isere

05 March 2016

£245

£232

£305

£292

£243

£179

£167

£116

Val d'Isere

12 March 2016

£218

£205

£278

£265

£243

£179

£173

£120

Val d'Isere

19 March 2016

£232

£219

£292

£279

£182

£136

£187

£130

Val d'Isere

26 March 2016

£490

£477

£550

£537

£437

£315

£209

£146

Val d'Isere

02 April 2016

£496

£483

£556

£543

£337

£245

£232

£162

Ski destination

Return journey

Fly + taxi

Eurostar Ski Train

Eurostar via Lyon

London to

Departure date

Adult no skis

Child no skis

Adult with skis

Child with skis

Adult

Child

Adult

Child

Val Thorens

19 December 2015

£255

£242

£315

£302

£344

£252

£240

£169

Val Thorens

26 December 2015

£465

£452

£525

£512

sold out

sold out

£304

£214

Val Thorens

02 January 2016

£232

£219

£292

£279

£240

£179

£189

£134

Val Thorens

09 January 2016

£213

£200

£273

£260

£210

£158

£174

£123

Val Thorens

16 January 2016

£203

£190

£263

£250

£280

£207

£174

£123

Val Thorens

23 January 2016

£223

£210

£283

£270

£344

£252

£180

£127

Val Thorens

30 January 2016

£215

£202

£275

£262

£297

£219

£174

£123

Val Thorens

06 February 2016

£213

£200

£273

£260

£230

£172

£174

£123

Val Thorens

13 February 2016

£773

£760

£833

£820

sold out

sold out

£389

£263

Val Thorens

20 February 2016

£202

£189

£262

£249

£210

£158

£174

£123

Val Thorens

27 February 2016

£199

£186

£259

£246

£220

£165

£174

£123

Val Thorens

05 March 2016

£245

£232

£305

£292

£250

£186

£174

£123

Val Thorens

12 March 2016

£218

£205

£278

£265

£250

£186

£180

£127

Val Thorens

19 March 2016

£232

£219

£292

£279

£189

£143

£194

£137

Val Thorens

26 March 2016

£490

£477

£550

£537

£444

£322

£216

£153

Val Thorens

02 April 2016

£496

£483

£556

£543

£344

£252

£239

£169

Alpe d'Huez

19 December 2015

£268

£255

£328

£315

Not applicable

Not applicable

£233

£170

Alpe d'Huez

26 December 2015

£435

£422

£495

£482

Not applicable

Not applicable

£297

£215

Alpe d'Huez

02 January 2016

£218

£205

£278

£265

Not applicable

Not applicable

£182

£135

Alpe d'Huez

09 January 2016

£190

£177

£250

£237

Not applicable

Not applicable

£167

£124

Alpe d'Huez

16 January 2016

£188

£175

£248

£235

Not applicable

Not applicable

£167

£124

Alpe d'Huez

23 January 2016

£197

£184

£257

£244

Not applicable

Not applicable

£173

£128

Alpe d'Huez

30 January 2016

£195

£182

£255

£242

Not applicable

Not applicable

£167

£124

Alpe d'Huez

06 February 2016

£227

£214

£287

£274

Not applicable

Not applicable

£167

£124

Alpe d'Huez

13 February 2016

£602

£589

£662

£649

Not applicable

Not applicable

£382

£264

Alpe d'Huez

20 February 2016

£199

£186

£259

£246

Not applicable

Not applicable

£167

£124

Alpe d'Huez

27 February 2016

£199

£186

£259

£246

Not applicable

Not applicable

£167

£124

Alpe d'Huez

05 March 2016

£213

£200

£273

£260

Not applicable

Not applicable

£167

£124

Alpe d'Huez

12 March 2016

£192

£179

£252

£239

Not applicable

Not applicable

£173

£128

Alpe d'Huez

19 March 2016

£250

£237

£310

£297

Not applicable

Not applicable

£187

£138

Alpe d'Huez

26 March 2016

£484

£471

£544

£531

Not applicable

Not applicable

£209

£154

Alpe d'Huez

02 April 2016

£369

£356

£429

£416

Not applicable

Not applicable

£232

£170

Ski destination

Return journey

Fly + taxi

Eurostar Ski Train

Eurostar via Lyon

London to

Departure date

Adult no skis

Child no skis

Adult with skis

Child with skis

Adult

Child

Adult

Child

Les Gets

19 December 2015

£209

£196

£269

£256

Not applicable

Not applicable

£227

£156

Les Gets

26 December 2015

£419

£406

£479

£466

Not applicable

Not applicable

£291

£201

Les Gets

02 January 2016

£186

£173

£246

£233

Not applicable

Not applicable

£176

£121

Les Gets

09 January 2016

£167

£154

£227

£214

Not applicable

Not applicable

£161

£110

Les Gets

16 January 2016

£157

£144

£217

£204

Not applicable

Not applicable

£161

£110

Les Gets

23 January 2016

£177

£164

£237

£224

Not applicable

Not applicable

£167

£114

Les Gets

30 January 2016

£169

£156

£229

£216

Not applicable

Not applicable

£161

£110

Les Gets

06 February 2016

£167

£154

£227

£214

Not applicable

Not applicable

£161

£110

Les Gets

13 February 2016

£727

£714

£787

£774

Not applicable

Not applicable

£376

£250

Les Gets

20 February 2016

£156

£143

£216

£203

Not applicable

Not applicable

£161

£110

Les Gets

27 February 2016

£153

£140

£213

£200

Not applicable

Not applicable

£161

£110

Les Gets

05 March 2016

£199

£186

£259

£246

Not applicable

Not applicable

£161

£110

Les Gets

12 March 2016

£172

£159

£232

£219

Not applicable

Not applicable

£167

£114

Les Gets

19 March 2016

£186

£173

£246

£233

Not applicable

Not applicable

£181

£124

Les Gets

26 March 2016

£444

£431

£504

£491

Not applicable

Not applicable

£203

£140

Les Gets

02 April 2016

£450

£437

£510

£497

Not applicable

Not applicable

£226

£156

Val Cenis

19 December 2015

£299

£286

£359

£346

Not applicable

Not applicable

£225

£154

Val Cenis

26 December 2015

£404

£391

£464

£451

Not applicable

Not applicable

£289

£199

Val Cenis

02 January 2016

£248

£235

£308

£295

Not applicable

Not applicable

£174

£119

Val Cenis

09 January 2016

£213

£200

£273

£260

Not applicable

Not applicable

£159

£108

Val Cenis

16 January 2016

£224

£211

£284

£271

Not applicable

Not applicable

£159

£108

Val Cenis

23 January 2016

£230

£217

£290

£277

Not applicable

Not applicable

£165

£112

Val Cenis

30 January 2016

£217

£204

£277

£264

Not applicable

Not applicable

£159

£108

Val Cenis

06 February 2016

£235

£222

£295

£282

Not applicable

Not applicable

£159

£108

Val Cenis

13 February 2016

£688

£675

£748

£735

Not applicable

Not applicable

£374

£248

Val Cenis

20 February 2016

£232

£219

£292

£279

Not applicable

Not applicable

£159

£108

Val Cenis

27 February 2016

£222

£209

£282

£269

Not applicable

Not applicable

£159

£108

Val Cenis

05 March 2016

£227

£214

£287

£274

Not applicable

Not applicable

£159

£108

Val Cenis

12 March 2016

£224

£211

£284

£271

Not applicable

Not applicable

£165

£112

Val Cenis

19 March 2016

£306

£293

£366

353

Not applicable

Not applicable

£179

£122

Val Cenis

26 March 2016

£476

£463

£536

523

Not applicable

Not applicable

£201

£138

Val Cenis

02 April 2016

£382

£369

£442

429

Not applicable

Not applicable

£224

£154

Infographic showing examples

How we did this research

1. The research was carried out on 14th September 2015 to provide a shapshot of prices for the 2015-16 ski season. Although flight and train prices change gradually everyday, this data should give you a useful indication of the differences betweeen the various options. By the start of September, trains have been on sale for six weeks, and flights for longer, so these are not the 'lead in' fares advertised by airlines and train operators that you can often get (for low season dates) when booking opens.

2. Flights quoted were all easyJet prices from Gatwick. Flying from Luton or Stanstead were very similar prices. We didn't check other airlines or airports, as the amount of data would be been overwhelming.

3. To provide a like-for-like comparison in terms of departure and arrival time in resort. On the outbound we chose the cheapest flight departing after 8am from Gatwick, and landing before 6pm (in order to reach resort at a reasonable time); on the inbound we chose any flight departing Europe after 10am and landing in Gatwick up until 7pm. So if there was a cheaper flight departing Gatwick at 6am, for example, and therefore requiring you to stay up all night to catch, it isn't included here.

4. Child prices for train travel are valid for children aged 4-11 (children under four years old can travel for free, without a reserved place). On Easyjet children above two years old pay the same fare as adults.

5. The resorts were chosen to provide a typical range of destinations accessible by either the direct Eurostar Ski Train or the Eurostar via Lyon train options. Prices to other resorts in the French Alps will be similar.

Like more help and advice?

photo:Daniel Elkan

If you'd like more help and advice the best train travel options, resorts and accommodation, feel free to contact Snowcarbon's founder, Daniel.

He can help with specific advice and suggestions for the most suitable train travel options, resorts and accommodation.